Hi, I'm new here. Here is my story: I decided 3 weeks ago that I needed to make a change and I told my family that I was going to quit drinking. I had gotten to the place where I was drinking pretty much a bottle of wine every night. Some days I could go without any but as soon as I took a drink I would have to finish the bottle or even more. I am the daughter and sister of recovering alcoholics so I know that I have the same disease. I have read The Alcoholism Cure and very intrigued with it and Naltrexone. It all seems to make sense to me. I have been abstaining because that's all I know how to keep from drinking too much. I don't feel that I can continue to abstain much longer because I really have a hard time with not drinking when I am in social situations that I used to drink at. Has anyone here been abstaining and then start drinking with the plan to take Nal because you want to still drink but under controlled limits? Also, does anyone know a TSM doctor close to Dayton Ohio? Thanks to all of you!

Hi Dancer,

Welcome to TSM. I think many of us, including me, adopted the method because it promised to allow us to still drink, but with more moderation. I've been on TSM since last June, and found that it takes much longer than you might think to get to the point where alcohol no longer rules your life. I finally feel I'm getting there, though. Wish I could help you with a local doc - I'm in North Carolina - but perhaps other members of the group will know someone. Good luck with your progress.

Thanks, Weirdo, for the welcome. Were you abstaining when you started with Nal or still drinking? I'm not sure if I should consider to start drinking so the Nal will work for me when I start it. I really don't see myself abstaining for life. It really is hard for me to accept that way of thinking even though I know I have a problem with alcohol. How long did it take you to notice a difference in your intake? Just curious.

Hi and welcome to the board. There have been several people who have gone from abstaining to drinking on Naltrexone on the board. However, you will have to search around to find them though as I can't recall who they were off the top of my head. Two years ago when I started I was briefly AF for ten days before starting TSM. This method definitely works for the vast majority who try it. If you can't find a doctor in your area who will prescribe it, River Pharmacy and All Day Chemist are two reliable online providers for many people here.

Good luck. TSM works!

My best,

Nick

Dancer,

It would be irresponsible of any of us to suggest that you start drinking in order to try TSM and naltrexone, but at the same time we understand the reality of your situation, that being that if you're white-knuckling it right now then (1) that's not going to last and (2) it's no way to live. It would be wise to obtain some naltrexone, even though im afraid you might consciously or subconsciously take it as "permission" to break your abstinence. I guess that's just the reality of where we all are or have been.

I'm afraid I don't know of any doctors in your area (or anywhere else for that matter) to whom I can refer you. I always had good luck with River Pharmacy. Others reported success with alldaychemist.com.

Dancer, Mario's thread would be a good one for you to read as she was abstinent prior to TSM. 4abetterlife is newer to TSM but is having good success and was also coming off a lengthy abstinence. Ultimately, it's your decision. I'm sure you are weighing the pros and cons and your current level of comfort with your abstinence and the likelihood you can continue. Definitely read up on the alcohol deprivation effect. Once I read about that phenomenon I had an explanation for why I could have incredible discipline in every other aspect of my life except staying away from booze despite it's negative effects on my health and happiness.

Thank you all for your posts. I had an appointment with my doctor today and talked to her about what I had learned about the Sinclair Method and Naltextrone and she was very supportive. I gave her the website to the book and she read the excerpts and was very interested in it. She actually said that she was very "excited" about what she read. She called in a prescription for me today. I am so grateful for her open mind and her willing to listen to me. I didn't drink anything tonight but I probably will this weekend. I will take Nal then.
I will let you know how it goes.

It's great that your doctor is open to this method.

Take half a tablet the first time and read up on side effects here. They can be harsh at first but are almost always very fleeting and go away by the third or fourth session for most people.

My best,

Nick